Challenge #4 at Craftyscrappers...

Hi! Craftyscrappers is back with its Challenge #4 - Black & White with a Hint of Colour.

Here is my inspiration card.

I started with a white card stock panel. I stamped the Kaisercraft Script stamp in distress ink Hickory Smoke. I also lightly distressed the edges with the same ink. Next I took the beautiful flourish die cut from Craftyscrappers and inked it with Twisted Citron. The butterfly, also from Craftyscrappers, was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white EP. I covered it with Twisted Citron and Picked Raspberry inks and went over it with the Artistry Black Shadow ink. The sentiment is from the Persian Motifs set By Altenew.

Here is a close up of the butterfly.

I flicked some diluted Twisted Citron ink on white card base and then adhered the assembled panel to it. The whole card came together quickly, thanks to the gorgeous die cuts from Craftyscrappers. You can check out their vast range of high quality diecuts here. They update and add to their stocks every week. So make sure to check often.

For the details of the challenge check out the blog here.

Hope my card inspires you to created something beautiful. Looking forward to seeing your beautiful creations in our gallery.

Love,
Nandini
Guest DT - Craftyscrappers

Another rainbow card...

Hi! I am back with another inspiration card for Craftyscrappers Challenge #3 - Rainbow.

I started with a rectangular die cut that was included in my goodie bag. I coloured it in rainbow colors with my Camlin Brush Pens. The Craftscrappers' die cuts are made of high quality, 160 gsm paper which makes them very easy to colour. The card base is 4.25 x 5.5" kraft. I used the Impression Obsession Dotted Floral stamp and stamped with Versamark ink for a tone on tone effect.

I then used the sentiment die cut (DC-VS-109) and coated with several layers of black EP. I also added a little gold EP and silver glitter for extra shine. Here is a close up of the gorgeous sentiment.

To assemble the card, I mounted my rainbow panel on black fun foam and adhered it to the card base.

I hope my card inspires you to create something beautiful. Please check out the Craftyscrappers blog for more gorgeous inspiration from my fellow teamies and the deets on linking your creation to the challenge. Also do check out the Craftyscrappers FB page for an awesome collection of die cuts and other crafty stuff.

Love,
Nandini

Exciting news...

Hi! I have some exciting news to share! I am going to be a Guest DT with Craftyscrappers for the months of December and January!

Craftyscrappers is a great e-shop selling high quality die cuts at very pocket friendly rates. You can check out their entire catalogue here.

As a GDT I got a great goodie bag chock-a-block with beautiful die cuts, charms, pre-stamped images, papers etc along with a sweet card from Konica Das, owner of Craftyscrappers. Here are some of the things in the goodie bag.

Craftyscrappers also hosts a weekly challenge. The theme of Challenge #3 is “RAINBOW“. You can make anything that fits the theme. You can check out the other details here.

I was so excited that I ended up making two cards. For both cards I have used Tim Holtz's mini distress inks Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans, Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Barn Door.

I used the distress inks to ink up my Rose Lace background stamp by Impression Obsession, lightly spritzed with water and then stamped on watercolour paper. 

The butterfly die cut is from the goodie bag. I heat embossed it with gold and copper EP. The sentiment stamp is custom made. Some pearls from my stash finished the card.

The second card is square and I used the Dotted Floral background stamp by Impression Obsession with the same technique as the first.

I used the beautiful label die cut (DC-FR-17) from the goodie bag. I painted it black and then simply stamped and heat embossed with gold EP. Here is a closer look at this super intricate die cut.

A narrow, black ribbon finished the look.

Here is a look at both the cards together.

I hope you are inspired by my creations. Make sure to go and check out the Craftyscrapper's catalogues. They have a huge variety of really high quality die cuts. Looking forward to looking at your beautiful creations.

Entering both the cards in the following challenges:

CAS(E) This Sketch #152

Fashionable Stamping Challenge #106 - Make your own background


Love,
Nandini
GDT - Craftyscrapper

Craftyscrappers Challenge #2...

Hi! I am entering this card in the Craftyscrappers Challenge #2: Blue.

Also linking it to the Mod Squad Challenge. My ingredients are Embossing, Faux Stitching and Die Cuts.

Love,
Nandini

Challenge Entry #4...

Hi! I am entering this card in the Mod Squad Challenge. 

My ingredients are Embossing, Faux Stitching and Die Cut.

Love,
Nandini

Challenge Entry #3...

Hi! I am entering this card in the Mod Squad Challenge. 

My ingredients are Embossing, Faux Stitching and Die Cut.

Love,
Nandini

Challenge Entry #2...

Hi! I am entering this card in the Mod Squad Challenge. 

My ingredients are Embossing, Faux Stitching and Die Cut.

Love,
Nandini

Challenge Entry #1...

Hi! I am entering this card in the Mod Squad Challenge. 

My ingredients are Embossing, Faux Stitching and Die Cut.

Love,
Nandini

Some ink blending with distress inks...

Hi! I recently had an opportunity to try the Artistry distress inks introduced by our very own Shilpi Crafts. They are really great inks and very pocket friendly as well. I needed a quick card for a friend who is ill and decided to try the blending technique with these inks.

I cut a rectangular mask and used Old Parchment, Dry Weed, Elegant Emerald, Tenacious Teal and Ocean Reef by Artistry. I also used Blueprint Sketch and Faded Jeans by Ranger. The sentiment was heat embossed with Primary Ebony EP by WOW! and the moon with Silver EP by Ranger. The stamp is a local brand and stamped with black Versafine ink.

Here is a closeup of the blended portion.

Note how beautifully the Artistry and Ranger inks are blending.

Entering this card in the CAS(E) this Sketch #151

Also entering in the Peek-a-boo Designs Challenge #1: Mood Board

I was very inspired by the beautiful teal, blue and green of the Christmas ornaments on the mood board.

Love,
Nandini

New ink in town...

Hi! Few months ago I walked into my local craft shop and the owner, sounding excited, told me that there was a new distress ink in town! I was intrigued and picked up one pad as trial. Since I liked the quality and range of colors I bought some more. Few days ago I managed to attend a free workshop where I got the opportunity to try the entire range.

The brand is Artistry, brought to us by Shilpi Crafts who have long been supplying us with great crafting products. The owner, Shilpa Kenia, is very talented and sweet. I had a great time at the workshop and also picked up a set of 12 mini ink pads and blending foams. The quality of both is amazing. I have quite a few Ranger distress inks and Artistry is as good.

Since I wanted to try all the colors, I decided to use the plaid technique. I selected three colors at a time and made two cards. The stripe stamp is DIY. The stitched line stamp is from Itsy Bitsy and stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I used Lawn Fawn's Stitched Journaling Card die set for the sentiment panels.

Colors used: Blaze & Golden Turmeric.

The sentiment panel was cut with an Itsy Bitsy die. I heat embossed the sentiment from Bold Wishes by CAS-ual Fridays in WOW!'s Primary Apple Red EP.

The sentiment is from Bo Bunny's Sentiments stamp set, heat embossed with WOW!'s Primary Ebony EP.

This card is another favourite, heat embossed using WOW!'s Primary Apple Red and Primary Lemon EPs.

Colors used: Ocean Reef, Camel Safari & Elegant Emerald.

I heat embossed Taylored Expressions' Graphic Greetings Birthday stamp with Lindy's Stamp Gang's Lapis Lazuli Blue Gold EP. The stars are heat embossed with WOW!'s Metallic Copper EP.

This card I am entering in the Craftyscrappers Challenge #2: Blue.

Did some partial die cutting. Used CAS-ual Fridays' Bold Wishes stamp set and heat embossed with a mix of Wow!'s Earthtone Olive and Primary Lagoon EPs.

Colors used: Tenacious Teal, Lush Lilac & Dry Weed.

Heat embossed the sentiment from the Bold Wishes set by CAS-ual Fridays with WOW!'s Pastel Purple EP.

Stamped a DIY sentiment with Lush Lilac and heat embossed it with Ranger's Clear EP. Added some sequins from my stash. Few splatters of ink with Dry Weed finished the card.

Colors used: Cinnamon Tea, Blushing Rose & Camel Safari

This is one of my favourites out of the lot. The sentiment is heat embossed with WOW!'s Metallic Copper EP on watercolor paper.

The sentiment was heat embossed on white cardstock with Ranger's Gold EP. 

I added layers of colors, ending with Black Soot till I got a nice distressed look. Some water splatters and a layer of translucent paper completed the look.

Colors used: Fine Wine, Ocean Reef, Dry Weed.

Sentiment heat embossed with WOW!'s Metallic Copper, Earthtone Olive and Primary Lagoon EPs.

I stamped the sentiment with Fine Wine ink and heat embossed with Ranger's Clear EP. Some glittery diecuts in green finished the look.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with these beautiful inks. I hope you will give these a try as well.

Love,

Nandini

Share Handmade Kindness Challenge Week 1...

Hi! Jennifer Mcguire, one of the most amazing crafters I have ever come across, has recently launched her Share Handmade Kindness Challenge. I am entering the bunch of cards that I made for Diwali.

 

Since I had several cards to make and little time, I kept the design very simple. 



The beautiful stamp sets released by Varshitha Nagarajan really helped. I absolutely love the sentiment stamp! I mixed a few embossing powders to get a color similar to the pattern paper. After that making the cards was a breeze.



So here are my Diwali cards, all ready to be posted and bring a smile on the faces of my family and friends.

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous Diwali & New Year as well.

Love,
Nandini

The Indian Craft Room is back!

Hi! The Indian Craft Room is back! ICR was the one of the first challenge blogs that I started following and holds a very special place in my heart! The ICR challenges are back and I HAD to participate!

The first challenge is interesting with a great story board for inspiration.

I decided to take my love for quilting & sewing and adapt it to paper. I started with a bunch of rectangles sized 1" x 2". I folded them and started layering them to form the Somerset Star, a traditional folded star quilting pattern from the UK. I used this great tutorial by Janet Kan who blogs at Stitch n Sing. 

The challenge says use more than three triangles. I ended up using a lot more. Well, 40 triangles to be precise!

Rest of the card was easy. I used some dark brown cardstock. The sentiment is from the Deck The Halls Tobie set by Some Odd Girl Stamps which I won as part of blog candy by Simon Says Stamp. I heat embossed it and add two scored lines for some definition.

Here is a close up of the beautiful Somerset Star.

I am entering this in the Indian Craft Room's ICRCAUT01 challenge.

Also entering it in Beyond Grey Challenges BGC #72 - Anything Goes.

Love,
Nandini